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Give Something Thought Provoking for Christmas

I’d like to suggest something for the hard-to-buy-for people on your Christmas list—something a little more intellectual than a tie or gift certificate. My new book, Cross Examined: An Unconventional Spiritual Journey is now available at Amazon. I wrote my first notes about this project over eight years ago, so I’m pretty excited to finally be able to share it with you.

While many books defend the atheist position, this book takes a fictional approach to tough counter-apologetics arguments. Indeed, the intellectual debate almost becomes another character within the story.

The book targets two audiences. First, I want to give thoughtful Christians something to think about and to encourage complacent Christians to critique the foundations of their religion. Many Christian leaders make exactly this point, that they too want to push Christians to think. I think of the book as an intellectual workout—a taxing project, perhaps, but one that leaves the reader a stronger person.

Second, I want to reach atheists who might enjoy approaching these intellectual arguments in fiction rather than in the usual nonfiction form.

The book is set in Los Angeles in 1906, in an odd new church that is suddenly world famous. The pastor’s prediction of imminent disaster had been front-page news the day before the great San Francisco earthquake—true story. Here’s the back-cover summary:

In 1906, three men share a destiny forged by a prophecy of destruction. That prophecy comes true with staggering force with the San Francisco earthquake and fire, and young assistant pastor Paul Winston is cast into spiritual darkness when his fiancée is among the dead. Soon Paul finds himself torn between two powerful mentors: the charismatic pastor who rescued him from the street and an eccentric atheist who gradually undercuts Christianity’s intellectual foundation.

As he grapples with the shock to love and faith, Paul’s past haunts him. He struggles to retain his faith, the redemptive lifesaver that keeps him afloat in a sea of guilt. But the belief that once saved him now threatens to destroy the man he is becoming.

Paul discovers that redemption comes in many forms. A miracle of life. A fall from grace. A friend resurrected. A secret discovered. And maybe, a new path taken. He realizes that religion is too important to let someone else decide it for him. The choice in the end is his—will it be one he can live with?

Cross Examined challenges the popular intellectual arguments for Christianity and invites the reader to shore them up … or discard them. Take the journey and see where it leads you.

Buy copies for those hard-to-buy-for friends who would enjoy a little different approach to the Christian/atheist debate. It’s guaranteed to be far more intellectually stimulating than a tie or gift certificate (and less cliché than frankincense or myrrh). Thanks!

It means that Santa Claus is in Satan’s service and will use Bob’s book as a tool for stealing souls from God! Isn’t it telling that children today look forward to Christmas for the gifts they will get rather than as a Christian celebration?? Santa Claus has corrupted the meaning of Christmas!

” It means that Santa Claus is in Satan’s service and will use Bob’s book as a tool for stealing souls from God! ..”

Well, that is a nice subjective opinion but is Biblically absurd! No one can steal ” souls” from God.

Proof:

John 10 ”…..but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

As you can see Bob’s book can do nothing to steal souls from God. Nothing can steal those the Father gives the Son.. Where do you come up with this absurdity?

R F 2 continues:

“…. Isn’t it telling that children today look forward to Christmas for the gifts they will get rather than as a Christian celebration?? Santa Claus has corrupted the meaning of Christmas!”

Christmas is a man made doctrine ( taken from the book of Luke) and made into a Holiday.. There are only 2 ordinances of the Church of Christ. That is baptism of those who believe and repent. And the Lords supper. That’s it! Bile never tells us to make some bogus religious holiday out of the birth of Christ.

Sure Christians celebrate Christmas but it is just a holiday.. ( A true Christian has Christmas (( the incarnation: Phill 4) and Easter in his heart every day.)

“We preach Christ crucified to the Jew a stumbling block and to the Gentile foolishness” (1 Corn.) That is the Gospel!